EP0119758B1 - Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Bildung von Stapeln ineinandergesetzter Behälter mit einer vorbestimmten Zahl von Behältern - Google Patents
Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Bildung von Stapeln ineinandergesetzter Behälter mit einer vorbestimmten Zahl von Behältern Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0119758B1 EP0119758B1 EP84301094A EP84301094A EP0119758B1 EP 0119758 B1 EP0119758 B1 EP 0119758B1 EP 84301094 A EP84301094 A EP 84301094A EP 84301094 A EP84301094 A EP 84301094A EP 0119758 B1 EP0119758 B1 EP 0119758B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- containers
- station
- nested
- container
- stacks
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 10
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000003856 thermoforming Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001066 destructive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009966 trimming Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G57/00—Stacking of articles
- B65G57/02—Stacking of articles by adding to the top of the stack
- B65G57/16—Stacking of articles of particular shape
- B65G57/165—Stacking of articles of particular shape nested
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G51/00—Conveying articles through pipes or tubes by fluid flow or pressure; Conveying articles over a flat surface, e.g. the base of a trough, by jets located in the surface
- B65G51/02—Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for forming stacks of nested containers, such as cups, and more particularly, relates to an apparatus and method for separating stacks each of which consists of a predetermined count of isolated nested containers from a continuous supply of the containers.
- articles of this type may consist of containers such as cups formed of thermoplastic material into the cup-shaped configurations in a continually operating thermoforming and trimming installation wherein the articles are then nested to form a continuous supply stack. Thereafter, stacks each having a count of a predetermined number of such nested containers are isolated, removed from the continuous supply of containers and suitably bagged.
- the isolation of stacks each having a predetermined quantity of containers therein from a continuous supply of nested containers is effected either manually or through devices measuring the length of the isolated stack, which frequently may lead to inaccuracies in the count of containers provided in each of the isolated stacks. Consequently, it is of considerable economic and commercial importance to be able to provide an apparatus and a method wherein a predetermined count of nested containers, such as thermoformed plastic cups or the like, can be isolated or separated in a nested, stacked condition from a continuous supply of the containers.
- French Patent No. 1,552,615 discloses an apparatus for separating stacks of containers, each stack comprising a predetermined count of nested containers, from a supply of containers.
- the apparatus comprises a container feed to supply containers to a first station.
- the present invention provides an apparatus for separating stacks each consisting of a predetermined count of nested containers from a supply of said containers; comprising:
- the present invention further provides a method for counting and separating stacks of a predetermined number of nested containers from a continuous supply of containers; comprising the steps of:
- the apparatus of this invention includes a generally tubular conduit 12 which is adapted to be supplied with a continuous flow of containers from a suitable conveyor 14.
- the conveyor 14 may, if desired, have an upper run having a V-shaped cross section and which is movable in the direction towards the feed end 12a of the conduit 12 for feeding containers C from a trim press of a thermoforming apparatus (not shown) in which the containers have been produced from thermoformable plastic material through a thermoforming process, in a manner well known in the technology.
- the containers may be cups of thermoformable thermoplastic material, which have been molded in a thermoformer, separated into individual cups and trimmed in the trim press and then positioned on the upper run 14a of the conveyor 14 so as to be conducted towards the feed end 12a of the conduit 12.
- the conduit 12 has the containers C blown therethrough in the direction of arrow A through the utilization of a suitable pneumatic blowing device, such as a pneumatic jet pump (not shown), so as to cause the containers within the conduit 12 to be propelled in sequential order to continually flow towards the upper end or inlet of a container feed rate counting a'nd separating apparatus 16 in conformance with the inventive concept as described hereinbelow.
- a suitable pneumatic blowing device such as a pneumatic jet pump (not shown)
- the apparatus 16 which provides for the continuous flow of containers or cups C received from the conduit 12 to be isolated or separated into discrete stacks of nested containers each having a requisite count of containers therein, includes a first station 18 from which the containers are advanced in a continual and nested manner to a second station 20 located vertically below the first station, and in which the containers are isolated into the separate stacks each having a requisite container count as described herein.
- each of the functional components of the apparatus 16 is ensured through sensing the presence of an adequate supply of the containers at the first station 18 from the conduit 12.
- the presence of the containers C is detected through the positioning of a suitable detector device 22 above the station 18 below the discharge end 12b of the conduit 12.
- the container detector device 22 may consist of suitable photoelectric cells detecting the presence of the supply of containers being advanced towards the first station 18.
- a turntable unit 24 Positioned beneath the lower or discharge end of the apparatus 16 which, in essence, provides for the discharge of the isolated or separated stacks of the containers from the second station 20, may be a turntable unit 24 adapted to receive the sequentially fed separated stacks of containers, and to advance these stacks towards a packaging arrangement (not shown) for packaging each of the stacks in a suitable overwrap film material, as is well known in the packaging art.
- the first station 18 of the apparatus 16 includes a generally vertically extending frame structure 28 incorporating vertical, parallel spaced guides 30, in this instance four rods each contacting the outer surface of the containers at circumferentially spaced locations thereabout so as to maintain the containers in vertically oriented positions during their downward travel through the apparatus.
- wheels 32 Arranged intermediate each of the guide rods 30 are wheels 32 rotating in the direction of arrow B, which may have a bristle-like circumferential surface positioned to come into frictional contact with the outer surfaces of the containers being conveyed downwardly towards first station 18 from the conduit 12, and to thereby continually impart downward pressure to the containers in the direction of arrow C between the guide rods 30.
- a second similar set of wheels 32' Positioned vertically below the first set of rotating wheels 32 are a second similar set of wheels 32' which are driven at the same speed as wheels 32 in order to continue advancing the containers downwardly toward the second station 20 into a nested condition.
- the entire frame structure 28 may be mounted on vertically and horizontally adjustable rack members 34 and 36 to allow for adjustment of the positioning of wheels 32 and 32', and of the spacing between the guide rods 30 to accommodate for the conveyance of containers of different sizes through the apparatus 16.
- the operation, of the apparatus is ensured through the detector or photoelectric cell arrangement 22 continually detecting the presence of containers C from the conduit 12, thereby ensuring that a supply of containers will be available from the first station 18 of the apparatus 16.
- the containers are then advanced in a nested condition between the guide rods 30 vertically downwardly towards the second station 20 of the apparatus through the action of wheels 32, 32', and wherein the containers are adapted to be isolated or separated into discrete stacks of nested containers, with each stack being constituted of a requisite count of containers.
- the second station 20 of the apparatus providing for the requisite count of containers and advancing separated or isolated stacks of nested containers includes rotatable wheels 40 arranged adjacent the path of travel of the containers between the vertical guide rods 30, such wheels preferably being arranged spaced 180° apart on the opposite sides of the advancing containers C.
- Each wheel 40 includes a plurality of resilient members 42 mounted in spaced relationship about the circumference thereof and each projecting radially towards the container C.
- Each of the resilient members which may be formed of steel wire, includes a pair of radially outwardly diverging side arm portions 44 interconnected by a transverse member 46 having a laterally offset central portion 48.
- each of the resilient members 42 is adapted to have the transverse portion 46 contact the rim of a container so as to bias it forwardly into a predetermined nested relationship with a preceding container advanced downwardly through the second station 20 of the apparatus 16. Consequently, the continuous rotation of the wheel 40 and the continual contacting of successive containers C by the resilient members 42 will produce a predetermined feed or count rate of containers in nested relationships at a fixed distance with respect to each of the preceding containers.
- Endless conveyor chain drives 50 are arranged intermediate and exteriorly of the guide rods 30, preferably offset 90° relative to the. wheels 40 about the circumference of the containers, and are driven in synchronism with the rotation of wheels 40 through the intermediary of a suitable drive arrangement (not shown) and in which a vertical run 52 of each of the conveyor drives 50 extends into close proximity with and follows the linear path of downward travel of the containers C as they are advanced through the second station 20 by the action of the resilient members 42.
- Each of the endless conveyor chains 50 includes a clip 54 mounted thereon to be in alignment with each other during travel of the conveyors, and projects inwardly towards the containers C when rotated in the direction of arrow E at the upper end of the conveyor travel and when moved downwardly along the run 52.
- the projecting clips 54 are adapted to engage the edge or rim portion of a container C at predetermined intervals, or, in essence, each time the endless conveyor chains 50 complete a revolution at which point its clip 54 has reached the upper end of the run 52.
- the linear downwardly moving speed of the run 52 is somewhat higher than the circumferential speed of the rotary wheels 40 or the downward feed rate of the container C by the resilient members 42 so that, depending upon the relative speeds between the conveyor runs 52 and the rotational speed of the wheels 40, a requisite count of containers C will be isolated or separated and pushed downwardly away from the subsequently advancing containers by the projecting clips 54 on the endless chains 50.
- a requisite count of containers C will be isolated or separated and pushed downwardly away from the subsequently advancing containers by the projecting clips 54 on the endless chains 50.
- suitable elongated brushes 58 are positioned to extend along the downward path of movement of the advancing containers, so as to be in frictional engagement with the outer surfaces thereof and to thereby maintain the downwardly moving stacks in their nested container positions.
- the apparatus 16 may have the turntable 24 arranged therebelow for receiving the separated stacks of nested containers which have been isolated by means of the interacting chain conveyor drives 50 and the rotatable wheels and resilient members 40, 42 for transport to a suitable wrapping arrangement.
- the brush wheels 32, 32', the wheels 40 mounting the resilient members 42, and the endless chain conveyors 50 containing the projecting clips 54 may be driven or actuated from a common drive arrangement so as to provide for the appropriate synchronized speed relationships between each of the components and to thereby facilitate a requisite count of containers being provided in each stack which is isolated by the endless conveyor chain drives 50 in cooperation with the container count function of wheels 40 and resilient members 42. Furthermore, if desired, in order to change the count of containers in each isolated stack, it is also possible to contemplate varying the linear speed of the conveyor chain drives 50 relative to the rotational speed of the wheel 40.
- a suitable free-running rubber wheel 60 may be arranged to be contacted by each of the resilient members 42 in order to attenuate vibration of the resilient elements and to thereby reduce possible fatigue failure of these components.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
- Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
Claims (21)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/474,629 US4545714A (en) | 1983-03-11 | 1983-03-11 | Apparatus and method for forming stacks of nested containers each having a predetermined count of containers |
US474629 | 1983-03-11 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0119758A1 EP0119758A1 (de) | 1984-09-26 |
EP0119758B1 true EP0119758B1 (de) | 1987-04-15 |
Family
ID=23884364
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP84301094A Expired EP0119758B1 (de) | 1983-03-11 | 1984-02-21 | Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Bildung von Stapeln ineinandergesetzter Behälter mit einer vorbestimmten Zahl von Behältern |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4545714A (de) |
EP (1) | EP0119758B1 (de) |
CA (1) | CA1246106A (de) |
DE (1) | DE3463135D1 (de) |
Families Citing this family (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB8727581D0 (en) * | 1987-11-25 | 1987-12-31 | Optical Fibres | Method and apparatus for blowing optical fibre member |
US4905453A (en) * | 1988-07-21 | 1990-03-06 | Siebring Barton G | Method and apparatus for manufacturing nested polyethylene bags |
US4915578A (en) * | 1988-07-25 | 1990-04-10 | Total Tote, Inc. | Bin unstacking machine |
US5163073A (en) * | 1991-03-18 | 1992-11-10 | Ball Corporation | Can end counting system |
JPH06206637A (ja) * | 1993-01-11 | 1994-07-26 | Tsubakimoto Chain Co | 集積ゴムタイヤの解離搬送装置 |
ES2131292T3 (es) * | 1995-01-20 | 1999-07-16 | Cms Spa | Maquina para la recogida de vasos usados. |
US6267550B1 (en) | 2000-08-28 | 2001-07-31 | Paper Machinery Corporation | Container nesting and counting apparatus |
KR100420584B1 (ko) * | 2001-12-19 | 2004-03-02 | 현진제업 주식회사 | 컵 자동정렬장치 |
DE10164594A1 (de) * | 2001-12-21 | 2003-07-03 | Bellheimer Metallwerk Gmbh | Umlauf-Lagersystem |
US6918737B2 (en) * | 2002-10-31 | 2005-07-19 | Solo Cup Company | System and method for stacking a predetermined number of nestable objects |
US20040086370A1 (en) * | 2002-10-31 | 2004-05-06 | Randy Golden | System and method for stacking a predeterminded number of nestable objects |
US7153089B2 (en) * | 2003-09-12 | 2006-12-26 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Storage device |
US7762467B2 (en) * | 2007-02-01 | 2010-07-27 | Rennco, LLC | Method and apparatus for use in packaging a selected number of containers |
US8021099B1 (en) * | 2007-10-21 | 2011-09-20 | Polytype America Corporation | Reversed venturi system for separating and feeding nested foam cups |
US8180015B2 (en) * | 2010-06-29 | 2012-05-15 | Thomas A. Nalle, III | Counting device for counting nested articles and method for counting nested articles |
EP2995581B1 (de) * | 2013-03-22 | 2020-08-12 | Kiefel GmbH | Stapelstation für eine thermoformanlage, verfahren zum herstellen von becherförmigen produkten sowie thermoformanlage |
JP6465561B2 (ja) * | 2014-04-24 | 2019-02-06 | 株式会社アイディエス | 容器回収装置及び容器回収装置を用いた尿検査装置 |
US11884437B2 (en) | 2021-08-10 | 2024-01-30 | Rennco Llc | Packaging machine and apparatus and method for feeding cups for packaging |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1424647A (en) * | 1921-05-10 | 1922-08-01 | Israel Isaac | Nesting device |
US1620058A (en) * | 1926-03-08 | 1927-03-08 | Indiana Fibre Products Company | Stacking device |
US2347391A (en) * | 1942-05-30 | 1944-04-25 | Pacific Clay Products Company | Apparatus for feeding tiles to spraying machines |
CH367751A (de) * | 1958-08-15 | 1963-02-28 | Sig Schweiz Industrieges | Einrichtung zum selbsttätigen Zuführen von flachen Gegenständen zu einer Verpackungsmaschine |
FR1465356A (fr) * | 1961-11-07 | 1967-01-13 | Remy & Cie E P | Dispositif pour le groupage en nombre déterminé d'objets divers |
US3192565A (en) * | 1962-08-20 | 1965-07-06 | Illinois Tool Works | Automatic rim rolling apparatus |
GB1109466A (en) * | 1964-09-25 | 1968-04-10 | De La Rue Instr | Sheet feeding and counting apparatus |
US3351388A (en) * | 1965-06-29 | 1967-11-07 | Frank Corp Alan I W | Mechanism for handling and testing containers |
US3491633A (en) * | 1967-02-01 | 1970-01-27 | Brown Machine Co Of Michigan | Plastic container transfer apparatus and methods |
DE2538646A1 (de) * | 1975-08-30 | 1977-03-03 | Alfred Knauer | Vorrichtung zum stapeln von bechern |
US4343575A (en) * | 1980-04-16 | 1982-08-10 | Phillips Petroleum Company | Apparatus for transporting containers |
-
1983
- 1983-03-11 US US06/474,629 patent/US4545714A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1984
- 1984-02-21 DE DE8484301094T patent/DE3463135D1/de not_active Expired
- 1984-02-21 EP EP84301094A patent/EP0119758B1/de not_active Expired
- 1984-02-28 CA CA000448405A patent/CA1246106A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0119758A1 (de) | 1984-09-26 |
CA1246106A (en) | 1988-12-06 |
DE3463135D1 (en) | 1987-05-21 |
US4545714A (en) | 1985-10-08 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP0119758B1 (de) | Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Bildung von Stapeln ineinandergesetzter Behälter mit einer vorbestimmten Zahl von Behältern | |
US4768642A (en) | Multiple conveyors with overlapping material handling device paths | |
US4002005A (en) | Package of nested containers and method and apparatus for producing same | |
US5588285A (en) | System for loading packages into a box | |
US4699031A (en) | Method and apparatus for automatically cutting a web of foam material into sheets and for dispensing the cut sheets | |
US3742677A (en) | Method and apparatus for applying a carrier to a cluster of containers | |
JP2529721Y2 (ja) | 包装機械 | |
US3555977A (en) | Wicket loader | |
US5762175A (en) | Apparatus for the ordered transportation of packs | |
EP0673342B1 (de) | Verfahren und vorrichtung zum fördern,gruppieren und ausrichten von gegenständen | |
US5555700A (en) | Bottle conveying system | |
US5829954A (en) | Rotary motion feeder | |
WO2020109905A1 (en) | Device for feeding and arranging solid food products and machine for packaging solid food products | |
EP0186986B1 (de) | Förderer | |
JPH09500856A (ja) | 包装容器のラベル貼り方法とラベル貼り装置 | |
JPH0776322A (ja) | 袋包装品をずれ重ね状態にダンボール箱へ箱詰めする方法 | |
US3507429A (en) | Apparatus for severing strip material | |
US2850144A (en) | Conveying, packaging and slitting machine | |
US7762467B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for use in packaging a selected number of containers | |
US3505789A (en) | Pouch-filling machine | |
US3595366A (en) | Conveyer structure for packaging machines | |
WO2019092634A1 (en) | An apparatus for forming a group of products queued one following another | |
US4074506A (en) | Packaging apparatus | |
JPH0138009Y2 (de) | ||
EP4178887B1 (de) | Vorrichtung zum zuführen und anordnen von festen nahrungsmitteln |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IT NL |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19850221 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IT NL |
|
ET | Fr: translation filed | ||
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 3463135 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19870521 |
|
ITF | It: translation for a ep patent filed | ||
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed | ||
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 19881220 Year of fee payment: 6 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 19890221 Year of fee payment: 6 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Effective date: 19890228 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Payment date: 19890228 Year of fee payment: 6 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Payment date: 19890313 Year of fee payment: 6 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Effective date: 19900221 |
|
ITTA | It: last paid annual fee | ||
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Effective date: 19900228 |
|
BERE | Be: lapsed |
Owner name: MOBIL OIL CORP. Effective date: 19900228 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Effective date: 19900901 |
|
NLV4 | Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee | ||
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee | ||
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Effective date: 19901101 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST |